OBSESSED

56

LEAH

Of course he was late.

While I sat there, staring at the menu, I tried not to think about why Danny wasn't here on time. Why he wasn't here early.

Maybe he was going to stand me up. Maybe the only reason he asked me out in the first place was to wreck my confidence again.

I was really regretting this decision. Sadly enough, I hadn't even been drunk when I agreed to this. All the blame was on poor sober me.

Damn.

At least Jarrod had made me feel like a princess. Crazy as he might have been, I never wanted to be treated less than that. He'd set a new standard for any man or relationship I encountered in the future. How could I ever think Danny was going to fill that space? In truth, I had been more anxious than excited about this date. Isabelle had tried her best to pump me up while I got ready, but my heart just wasn't in it.

I was about to stand up and leave when the back door opened. Danny waltzed onto the patio and beelined directly for me, smiling. It was that apologetic-but-still-here smile I'd received too often while we dated.

"Hey," I called out as he came over.

Now that he was here, I'd actually have to suffer through this. Stupid me for not running while I had the chance.

"You look great," he told me, leaning down to press his lips to my cheek. I stiffened myself so I wouldn't flinch away from the context. He went to his seat and sat down. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's okay." My mouth provided the automatic response while I wondered why I even had one.

When did I become so weak? I didn't used to let guys play me like this. Danny might have taken my virginity but it wasn't like guys before him hadn't tried. They just hadn't been what I was looking for. Maybe no guy ever would measure up. The only one who'd come close . . . well, I didn't trust him.

Danny picked up the menu and said, "So how's your day been?"

"Not bad," I replied. "Just work. You?"

"Same old." He shrugged.

For some reason, it was hard to find things to talk about. Danny seemed oblivious to the awkwardness but I was suffocating in it. I felt like I was looking at him through new eyes. No longer did I see him in a rosy tint or as the heartless prick who'd ruined my self-image. He was just another smug rich guy on his own time. Even our history couldn't make him more appealing to me. In fact, our history made it worse.

I didn't want to make this an ordeal and be dramatic, so I let dinner unfold as it would. We ate, chatted about menial things—if anything at all—and then the check came. Mentally, I'd prepared myself for this. I would duke it out with him for the check. There was no way I would let him buy my dinner when I had already decided we were going nowhere after this. Letting him pay might have given him ideas that we were becoming something or that I had some obligation to him. I was not willing to let either happen.

Danny picked up the receipt and read the total. "Twenty-seven dollars and fifty-eight cents," he said and then looked up at me. "Want to split it?"

I couldn't help but just stare at him. Here I'd been prepared to wrestle him over the tab and he wasn't even offering to pay. It was almost laughable how dreadful he was. Well, that only made my decision easier.

"Sure," I said and handed over my credit card.  Schmuckhead.

After we paid, Danny asked if I wanted to get ice cream down the street. There was no chance in hell I'd put myself through any more agony.

"Actually, I think this has been good," I told him. "Danny, I've decided that I don't want to get back together. I didn't know that until tonight. I'm sorry. I hate to think I wasted your time. Part of me was still caught up in the maybes, but I know now. I need something new in my life; the past needs to stay in the past."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Okay. I understand. Can I walk you to your car at least?"

My body relaxed in relief. I'd been expecting him to turn hostile for some reason.

"Of course," I said. "I would actually really appreciate that."

We walked in silence to the parking garage and up to my level. Just before we reached my Benz, I paused to turn back to him. His hand lifted to caress my cheek and he looked into my eyes with shocking affection.

"Sweet, sweet Leah," he murmured. Wetting his lips, he leaned down to kiss my temple. "I'll see you around, lovebug."

My heart ached while I watched him go. Not the kind of ache that meant I made a mistake. It was simply the dull pain of acknowledging something was now gone forever. The feeling would pass and I could finally be free of him and that part of my past. 

I took a deep breath and nodded to myself. Reaching into my purse, I rifled around for my keys. My movements grew more frantic the longer it took to find them. I peeked into the window and tested the door, a wave of relief crashing over me as it opened.

You're lucky nobody stole your car, dumbass, I thought, rolling my eyes. I must have been so nervous about the date that I didn't even think about locking my car.

Sliding into the seat, I tried the ignition button and was pleased that my car cranked. So my keys were definitely somewhere inside. I turned the radio down and fastened my seatbelt across my body. After such an adrenaline rush, it was nice to have my car working and everything be okay. I was looking forward to going home and snuggling Foxy on the couch. Maybe I'd stop on the way to pick up some ice cream.

My thoughts dispersed as I put my car in reverse and looked up at the rear view mirror. A pair of eyes stared back at me. I screamed so loud my vocal chords throbbed.

"Easy, easy!" Jarrod said. "It's just me, Leah. Take a deep breath."

"Jarrod! What the fuck are you doing in my car?"

My pulse pounded so fiercely it echoed in my head. I couldn't even think straight after being so hugely surprised.

"I had to get your attention somehow, Leah," he told me. "You haven't been answering my texts or calls. I've been worried about you, baby. I wanted to tell you how sorry I am. I just didn't know how else to get you to listen to me."

"Why are you in my car?" I asked with alarming calmness, in spite of the ensuing panic building in my muscles. I could foresee how this was about to go, but I didn't want to admit it. "You could've come to my house. How did you even know I was here? Or where my car was?"

The realization struck me. I felt breathless and a little light-headed.

"Have you been . . . stalking me?"

Jarrod leaned forward so his chin rested on the shoulder my seat. Something sharp nudged my side. Daring to look down, I caught glimpse of a shiny serrated blade. I recognized it as the one I kept in my console in case I ever felt threatened. How ironic.

"I've been looking out for you," he was saying. "I have to say that I'm glad, too. You've been getting into quite a bit of trouble."

"Jarrod." I gulped. "What do you want?"

"For now," he said, kissing my shoulder, "I just want you to drive. I'm going to tell you exactly where to."

My hands trembled while I processed his words. He literally had a knife to my stomach. I couldn't call the police without him jabbing it into me. Could he really hurt me?

"Come on, love." His warm breath slid across my neck, making me shudder. "Let's not make this worse. Just do as I say. I promise you'll be alright. Everything will be alright."